Disappearing-gun carriage.



DSPEAUQG GUN HIAGE.. (Application med zum 2s, 15:57.)

(No Model.)

f wauw,

rre Screens listar SAMUEL M MANSFIELD, OF THE` UNITED STATES ARMY, ANDFRANK S.- Y MASON, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

DiSAPPErliNG=-GUN CARRUGE.

SPECIFCATION forming part of vZiieti'fers Patent No. 653,028, dated July3, 1900.

' @puestas nea :um 26,1897. strains. 642,468. ott maar) vSON, of Malden,in the county of Middlesex and State oflviassachusetts, have inventedcertain'new and useful Improvements in Dis-A showing a gun' mountedappearing-Gun Carriages,of which the following is a specification.

' This invention has for its object 'to provide a disappearing-guncarriagel of simple construction which shall be strong and durable V andinsure the movement of the gun from its iii-ing ro its 'loadingposition, and vice versa, with an easy movement and Without developing arotative tendency in the gun' on its arrival at either position.

The invention consists in the improvements which we will now proceed todescribe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,`Ei'ure l represents side elevation of our improved carriage, thereon,the parapet behind whichA the carriage-is located being shown insection. Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of one of the supplementalchassisplates hereinafter referred to. Fig. 2 represents a section online 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig, 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. l.Fig. 4 represents a top plan View. Fig. 5 represents a front endelevation, the parapet being removed. Figs. 6, 7, and S represent viewssimilar to Fig. l, showing diierent adjustments of the gun.

The saine letters ot reference indicate the sameparts in all the figuresIn the drawings, a represonis a horizontal turn-table mounted to rotateou-a iixed base track c, between which b, having a circular arcinterposed suitable and the turn-table antifriction-rolls d. I

e e represent two parallel webs or plates afiixed to the turn-table andextending rearwardly therefrom and constituting the main chassis of thecarriageaid plates being bolted ci' otherwise secured to the turn-table.The upper edges of the chassis plates or webs are frmed as track-rails,supporting Wheels ou,

the gun truck or cradle p. The rear end of the chassis may be providedwith wheels if, arranged to run on a iixed segmental track g,

which is concentric with the axis of the turn= table, or, if desired,the turn-'fable may beef suicientdiameter to support the chassis, inwhich case the track g will not be required. ,y

h h represent tw'o parallel platesv or Websl constituting what may betermed a supple-` mental chassis. Said plates their outer suitablemeans, such as two segmental plates or hinge members i t', one aixed tothe main chassis and the other to the supplemental chassis. The plate ormember 1l' is adapted to slide on the plate or member to permit avertical swinging movementoi' the supple mental chassis. The upperplates o the supplemental chassis are formed as track-rails adapted tosupport wheels on the gun truck cr cradle pz Mechanism is provided foradjusting the supplemental` chassis, the mechanism here shown comprisingrack-segments j, termed on' the plaies of the supplemental ohasiis, apiuion la., meshing with said segments arid affixed to a shaft k', whichis journaled inthe main chassis, and an operating-shaft m, alsojournaled in the main chassis and havingahandwheel m' and a pinionln,the latter meshing with aV gear o, atxed to the shaft 7c'. We may,however, emplo?,7 any other suitable means for .adjusting thesupplemental chassis.

are hinged at*` end to the main chassis e e by any ,65 edges of the'sideV p represents the truck'or'cradlem'hich supports the gun. Said cradle,`which maybe of any suitable construction, has two pairs of wheels-q qand q q'. The forward Wheels q q are arranged to run on the rails of themain chassis, which may betermed a broad-gage trac-lr, While the reartogether than ranged to run on the rails of the supplemental chassis,which may be termed a narrow gage track.

wheels q q' are nearer Vthe forward wheels and are an: i

The gun is fixed rigidly to the truck, so that v there is `noindependent swinging movement of the gun therein, the angle of lire ofthe gun being determined by the relative positions of the adjustable andnon-adjustable tracks, asshown in naval guns, which are yout trunnions,mi

carriage.

The predios of the -two tracks are formed Figs. 6, 7, and p8. Thurgenerally made with,-

y be used with our,- improved v2 ceases 'rive the center ot' gravity ofthe gun a path ea. movement substantially such as is indicated by thedottedline z z, Fig. 1, said path being such that the center of gravityof the gun moves during recoil first along a curve which approximatesthe parabolic curve which vwould result from the recoil and the force ofgravitation acting ccnjoinily, then along a reverse curve which changesthe direction of movement of the said center of gravity, so that themovement is approximately horizontal, (although preferably at a slightdownward inclination at the end of the recoil.) rihe said path mayinclude a straight downward incline between the tivo curves, as shown,or'one curve may run tangentially into the `other Withontan intermediateineline. The result is an easy movement of the center of gravity of thegun from one position of rest to another, the latter part of eachrnevementwnamely, to its loading position and toits firingposition-being alonga practicallynstraight line, both the muzzle and thebreech moving in a straight path at the end of the recoil, so that whenthe motion is checked there is no teudencyif the gun to swing in avertical plane, the gun moving as a mass in one direction. in all of thedisappeering-gun carriages uoW in use, comprising swinging levers,linhsyyftc., the gun acquires a tendency to rotate c'- swing in avertical. plane in approaching its firing as Well as its loadingposition. With heavy guns the stresses due to therotary or swingingmotion of the mass are very great and often destructive, being didlcultto restrain or check sudA denly and a frequent cause of breakage. ln ourimproved carriage, however, this objection does not exist, the gun'having uo tendency to swing in a vertical plane.

tracks, as here shown, have curves :c of approximately-parabolic form attheir forward portions, the curves of 'the main chassis being preferablyformed so that the forward end of the track will have a slight downwardinclination to the stops c of, which limit the forward movement of thegun, this inclination causing the forward wheels of the truck to bearpostivelyagainst the said stops. The curves fr e join iuclines extendingdownwardly at an angle of about thirty degrees, and from thence the saidprofiles extend through reversed approximately-parabolic curves mimi todownward inclines :ci co4 at an A angle of about five degrees, theserear inclines forming the rear portions of the tracks. lt is obvious,however, that the curves moz. and c2 ci may join each other tangentiallywithout the intervening incline cv' The profiles of the two tracksdiffer slightly from each other, the difference being such as to causethe muzzle ofthe gun whenthe firingangle is asindicated ineither'liig's. 1, 6, orS to move during recoil along a practicallyfstraight line until it clears the parapct and' then through a reversedcurve to the loading position, the path of the muzzle being indicated bythe line y y in Fig. 1.

s represents a counterbalau'ce, which is con Yiiected with the truck orcradle by wire ropes The counterbalance s hangs which is determined bythe stops o',here shown 8o as arranged to blocklthe front wheels of theltruck.

The pulleys u u are separated sufciently to permit the barrel-of the gunto drop between them when it approaches its loading position. It will beseen that by connecting the couuterhalanceA with the truck by two ropesor cords and guiding said cords by two pulleys separatedA sufficientlyto receive the gu n-barre1 between them we insure an effective angle ofdraft of the cords through but a greater portion of the forward movementof the gun than would be possible if a single cord and pulley wereemployed,'in which case it would be necessary to locate the top of thepulley below the barrel of the guu. The angle of draft may be varied'atwill by the use of pulleys of different diameters or'by adjusting theheight of the axis or center of the puh leys,

Any usual or suitable means may be used t0 check and stop the recoilmovement of the gun. We have here shown as the checking means a cylinderw, attached to the rear end of the main chassis, and a piston or plungerw', `projecting therefrom in position to receive the impact of thetruck, the cylinder having suitable provisions for retarding thebackward movement of the plunger, such as' a body of air or liquidpermitted to escape slowly from behind the plunger. lVe do not limitourselves, however, to the means last described and may use any othersuitable means, such as rubber or steel-spring "ouders or any of thecontrivances heretofore used for this purpose. l

102 represents a catch, here shown as a hook pivoted to the truck toengage a dctent on the chassis, for the purpose of holding thegun inits'loadiug position. In this case the datent is a projection w3 on thepiston of the recoilcheck. A

It will he seen that the tracks are extended rearwardly beyond the pointof engagement of the catch Witnthe detent, so that'provlsiou is made forpermitting the gun to overrun or move baekwardly from its loadingposition under the influence of heavy charges, the counterbalancereturning it to its loading pel sition. Without this provision whenrelf.

'tively-light charges are used the gun `would come to rest above the.icading position and IIO esepss he partlyfexposed to the fire of theenemy, from whence it would have to be laboriously `ivitljirawi bybami-power, thus delaying the 'piem ent-al chassis maybe outsidetheplates or webs e e of the main chassis, in which case the hroari-gagetrack would loe the adjustable one.

In case it is not desirable te provide e Well under'the turn-ia`ole, anyusual or suitable hydraulic, electric, or other elevating apparatus maybe substituted for the counierhalu ance for elevating the gun to thefiring position.

A Winch or block and tackle may be provided for pulling the gun down byhand from the firing to the loading position when drilling a guncrew.life clsiinl. A ginngcarriage of the character specified,

v con] prisi n g two tracks of different gage, ni cans for varying therelative positions of said tracks, and a gun truck or cradle engagedwith boil; tracks.

Aguncarriage of the characterspecilieil, comprising two tracks ofdierent gage, m cans for vertically ailjnsting one of said tracks, and agun truc i or cradle engaged with both tracks.

A guircarriag'e of the characterspecified, comprising a mail; chassisconstituting a track, an adjust-able supplemental chassis ccnsiitntinganothertrack, meansior adg'nsb ingiliesupplcmental chassis, and a guntruck or cradle engaged with both trachs.

Ll. A fun-carriage of the character speciiie, comprising a main chassis.constituting a track, a supplemental chassis constituting anothertrack, a hinge or pivotal connection between the main and thesupplemental chassis, means for swinging the supplemental chassis in avertical plane, and a gni: truck or oreille engaged with both iracks.

5. A gun-carriage of the character specified, coinprisinga :nain chassishaving thc profiles oi' its side pieces formed to present alternatini;salient and rcntrant curves, constituting a track, a supplementalchassis having the l-proiil'esof its side pieces formed to present aternating salient and rentrant cori-*es anffif constituting anothertrack, am?. a ,or cradle engaged with both tracks, ,v v

6. A gun-carriage of the clianioterspeciii-eintrani; curves, and a guntruck er carriage es gaged with said tracks.

'7. A gun-carriage of the character specified, comprising tracks havingelevatecl curves, depressed rentrant curves, and inclines extending fromthe reentrant curve-s, and a gon-truck or cradle engaged with. said.irse-ks.

8. A gun-carriage of the characierspeei tied, comprising tracks havingelevated salient curves, depressei'l rentrant curves, anfl inclnesextending from the rentrant curves, a gun truck or cradle engaged with.said tracks, and a recoil-check arranged to permit the gun to overrunits loading position d nring recoil.

movaloiy affixed to said truck, trac-lr4 rails er members engaged withsaid truck, two ich leysarrangcd to permit the depressies of thegnnbarrel to a point between the pulleys, and `a counterbalancoconnected4 with the truck by cords passing over seid pulleys.'

-bination of a gun truck or cradle having two' sets of wheels, a gnuimmovably aiiixc to said truck, and tWotrac-ks of cliiicrent gageengaged Witlrsar wheels, one-er lyotli of sai-i tracks 'being adjustableto determine the en.; gie oi' 'fire of the gun. l i

1l. The combinaties of a gun, a or cradle in which the gun fixeil,sario. truck having two pairs of Wheels adapted te tracks ofdifferent-gage, a broadgage track engaged with one pair of wheels, anarrowgage track enfaged with the other pair of Wheels, and means foradj nsting one of said tracks to vary the inclination oi the truck andgun.

ln testimony whereof we have' signed our names ie this specification, inthe presence oi two subscribing;` witnesses, this 22d day oi June, A. D.1897.

SAMUEL M. lvliSl'l'l'LD. FRANK :5. li'iASGN'. Witnesses:

C. li. BROWN, ld. HAT-enuncia comprising tracksl having salient and:reen-" 10. ,in a disappcaringgun carriage, the cene-- Y sur f fi

9.v In a cliseppearinggnn carriage, ille combinaticn of a gun truck orcradle, a gun im gif)

